A local woman is without a house after a morning fire completely destroyed her mobile home in the Cedar Grove area.

Hiland Park, Southport and Northwest Side all responded to the fire on 24th Plaza behind the Books-A-Million store. Crews received the call at 8:47 a.m. and arrived within five minutes. The mobile home was engulfed in flames. The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

Homeowner Shelia McDonel lived alone in the house and does not have insurance. She says she owes her life to one of her pets.

"One of my cats jumped on top of me, my big black cat, and scratched me. The smoke was so bad in there. I got him out. I went back in, I had four more cats in there and the smoke was so bad, but I got two more out and lost one. Another is running loose. But I lost everything, it all, everything," said Sheila McDonel.

If you'd like to help McDonel in this time of need, you can contact the local American Red Cross Chapter at (850) 763-6587.